Eye of the Falcon (Psychic Visions #12)(101)

“I didn’t even recognize you, Arian,” she said in surprise. She held out her hand to Eagle and said, “Give me a full packet please.” Without question he gave it to her. She handed it to her friend. “This is for you. Thank you for hiding mom’s box in our old hiding place for me as she requested you to do.”

His face lit up. “I had forgotten all about placing that treasure box in there.”

“You did it though, didn’t you?” She smiled. “Thank you.”

She turned to face Barney who stared at his son and then at her, mystified.

She said, “In spite of everything that happened, when I was a child, your son and I were friends. And for that I’m forever grateful.”

She turned to her brother. “I know nothing of any gold. I know nothing of what happened to it. But that you have killed and maimed in the name of the family to recover smuggled goods, all because you considered someone stealing from you as an injustice, is beyond me. You’re the one who shot me, when I was just a child, because of your own hatred, your need to be the best, to act older, whatever it was that your twisted mind wanted to believe. You’re nothing but a cold-blooded killer and a sad excuse of a human being.”

Complete silence fell in the room once again.

Eagle watched in awe. Every man in that room was on her side now. And there wasn’t one man who wasn’t ashamed of his own behavior. Not the least of whom was Dylan.

She raised her eyes to Dylan and said, “It will be very hard for me to find any forgiveness in my heart for what you allowed those men to do to me. And the torture done by your own hand. I’m sorry that your son’s life was cut short. But what happened that night was not my fault. It was not my other brothers’ fault. Sometimes life is just a bitch. I can only surmise that the men who brought the girls heard the initial gunshots, turned their boat around, shot everyone involved with the smuggling, and took off with the casks. We hope the authorities can still follow the trails now and get to the bottom of this. Regardless if we know or not—we have to accept it and move on. Your method of moving on is unacceptable. To me and to everyone else in this room. And, if I were to find the gold, I would turn it into the police—as I did this morning with the jewels stolen that same night. Or did you not know about the four magnificent jeweled necklaces my mother hid for me all those years ago?”

Her brother roared in anger.

“Shut up,” she snapped. “You’re nothing but a heartless thief. A low-class murdering dog. I will have nothing more to do with you.” She motioned to Eagle and Hawk, and then to Tiger and Panther, before turning and walking toward the front door.

Eagle and Hawk looked at her and then at the men gathered here. They all stared at her brother.

“Don’t you turn your back on me,” Liam roared in frustrated anger. “Get back here, you bitch.”

Issa turned to face him. “I don’t take orders from you. Or have to take your abuse.” She turned to Hawk and Eagle. “It’s stuffy in here.”

They looked at her, confused. Until Eagle walked over to the closest window and opened it. A bird flew in. Someone laughed. Issa opened the door behind her as Hawk quickly walked to the closest windows and opened them too.

The first bird was followed by dozens. Soaring, swooping, causing panic as everyone screamed, roared, and ducked.

Issa let out a sharp whistle; then commanded the birds to stop.

Instantly they all rose to the ceiling and sat on the rafters above, where the birds eyed the audience below.

“It is Issa!” someone in the back yelled. “Only she commands the birds.”

Murmurs came from all around.

Liam glared at her. “I don’t give a damn about your parlor tricks.”

And he lifted a gun.

Eagle froze. Shit.

She lifted her gaze, seeing Panther and Tiger slowly creeping closer to Liam. With a hand up to stop them, she took a step toward her brother. And shook her head. “No, you cannot kill me.”

His grin was a horrible thing to see.

He raised the gun higher. Eagle pulled his own out, seeing Tiger and Panther following his lead.

Several of the other men pushed back to line the walls. “Who’ll stop me?” Liam sneered. “Not you. Your watchdogs? They might kill me, but they won’t stop me from killing you first.”

Eagle didn’t dare take his eyes off the bastard. He’d be happy to shoot him right now.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Issa’s smile. What was she up to now?

He watched.

The room went silent.

Just as Liam started to move a finger, … the birds attacked.

Not just one or two but dozens filled the air. Eagle couldn’t see Liam to shoot. But neither could Liam see Issa to shoot her.

He could hear Liam roar, then suddenly, as if under a silent command, the birds rose once again, and a large hawk of some kind carried Liam’s handgun in his talons.

Eagle’s jaw dropped. He caught the same dumbfounded look on everyone else’s face.

Except Issa. She grinned. Then chuckled. Seconds later she laughed uproariously. “Oh, Liam, if only you could see your face.”

Spitting in fury, over the edge by her laughing at him, Liam yelled at Dylan, “Go get that bitch. It’s time for her to learn a lesson.”

But Dylan didn’t move. He turned to stare at Issa’s defiant form, and he said, “No. She’s the daughter I wish I could have had but never did. If I’d but stayed with my wife, I might’ve been blessed yet again. But instead, I turned to a path of poison and let you guide me into a world I would never have gone to alone.”